Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
Laura Mack-in-er-nee
Deputy Editor of
Academies Week &
Guardian Columnist

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
Mistake #1 – Failing to
include ACTUAL research

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
In the early 2000s, four US researchers worked with 15 schools in one US
city. All schools had ‘challenging’ intakes, including high numbers of EAL
students.
They asked all teachers to meet for 2-4 hours per month, and:
- set goals for themselves, with indicators
- describe progress & helped needed at each meeting
- see academic achievement as solely THEIR responsibility
Results: After five years, effect size of 0.8 in intervention groups (>0.4)
Solution #1 – Include ACTUAL research!

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
In the early 2000s, four US researchers worked with 15 schools in one US
city. All schools had ‘challenging’ intakes, including high numbers of EAL
students.
They asked all teachers to meet for 2-4 hours per month, and:
- set goals for themselves, with indicators
- describe progress & helped needed at each meeting
- see academic achievement as solely THEIR responsibility
Results: After five years, effect size of 0.8 in intervention groups (>0.4)
Solution #1 – Include ACTUAL research!

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
Mistake #1 – Failing to
include ACTUAL research
Solution #1 – Include ACTUAL research!
(When, Who, How, Outcome)

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
Mistake #2 – Using research
as a hammer to bash people
into submission

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
"Meta-analyses of meditation and mindfulness research presents the intervention
as a panacea for physical and psychological problems. (Murphy & Taylor,
1997). Evidence shows that meditation helps cardiovascular disease, chronic
pain, panic disorder, substance abuse, dermatological disorders and reduces
depressive symptoms. It also improves self-actualisation, empathy, sense of
coherence and increases autonomy, moral maturity and spirituality. Finally, it can
heighten perception, improve reaction times and increase feelings of
independence, concentration and attention (Shapiro, Schwart, & Santerre,
2005).”

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
"Meta-analyses of meditation and mindfulness research presents the intervention
as a panacea for physical and psychological problems. (Murphy & Taylor,
1997). Evidence shows that meditation helps cardiovascular disease, chronic
pain, panic disorder, substance abuse, dermatological disorders and reduces
depressive symptoms. It also improves self-actualisation, empathy, sense of
coherence and increases autonomy, moral maturity and spirituality. Finally, it can
heighten perception, improve reaction times and increase feelings of
independence, concentration and attention (Shapiro, Schwart, & Santerre,
2005).”
Shapiro notes the limitations of these conclusions as many papers fail to provide
randomised control group and small sample sizes. Shapiro also criticises the
imprecise measurement of ‘mindful’ constructs. Recent studies, however, using
the ‘Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory’ demonstrate and were validated in several
studies meeting required conditions. (Brown, Ryan, & Creswell, 2007; Walach,
Bucheld, Buttenmuller, Kleinknecth, & Schmidt, 2006).

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
Mistake #2 – Using research
as a hammer to bash people
into submission
Solution #2 – Select a few
pieces of evidence & admit
weaknesses

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
Mistake #3 – Lack of STORY
Solution #3 – Tell a STORY

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
Mistake #4 – Mixing up
‘significance’ with ‘importance’

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
Significance =
The likelihood that a result or relationship is caused by
something other than mere random chance.
Important =
The finding matters because they have a specific
consequence
Solution #4 – Use the correct word!

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
Mistake #5 – Going on too long

Laura McInerney – 5 Big Mistakes When Writing (Or Talking) About Research
Mistake #5 – Going on too long
Solution #5 – Don’t.
Any questions?
laura@academiesweek.co.uk